User guide

Applying Image Effects 77
5. (Optional) Check Infer film response curve to affect a tone curve needed
to accurately process scanned images (from camera film). Otherwise, keep
unchecked for digital camera use.
6. Click OK. The Merge HDR dialog is displayed, showing a preview of your
intermediate HDR image.
Don't worry if your initial results look less than desirable. You're only
half way towards your stunning image but you'll need to modify the
HDR image using a series of adjustments next.
To adjust your intermediate image:
1. From the HDR Merge dialog, an image preview is displayed, along with a
merge file list and merge settings. Optionally, uncheck an image from the
upper-right list to exclude it from the merge.
2. Drag the Compression slider to a new value—use your eye to judge the
best merge results, but also the supporting Histogram to ensure that the
tonal range fits into the visible graph without clipping. The option
compresses or expands the dynamic range by dragging right or left,
respectively.
3. Set a Brightness level to make the image either lighter or darker.
4. Adjust the Black Point slider right to shift the histogram's left-most edge
making all affected pixels in the shadow region turn black.
5. Reduce Local Contrast Radius to alleviate image "flatness" when
compressing the dynamic range (see Compression above).
6. Set the Temperature to give a warmer "reddish" or cooler "blueish" look;
drag to the right or left, respectively.
7. Adjust the Saturation value to reduce or boost the color in your image.
8. Check Output 16-bits per channel if you're looking for the highest level
of detail in your merged output.
9. Click OK.